Honest comparisons with other PDF tools

Every service below is good at something. The main question is where your file goes: to a server that processes it and deletes it after a while, or nowhere at all. The second question is what you need done. For conversions to Word or Excel, or editing text, a server-based service is still the better tool.

PDFJadevs iLovePDFiLovePDF does far more than we do. Here is where that matters, and where keeping your files on your own device is the better deal.PDFJadevs SmallpdfSmallpdf is a polished all-in-one service with an account, cloud storage and AI tools. If you only need the PDF jobs, and you'd rather not upload, there's a lighter way.PDFJadevs SejdaSejda's online editor is excellent, and its free tier is generous within an hourly limit. Here's how a no-upload toolkit compares.PDFJadevs PDF24PDF24 is free, unlimited and funded by ads, with a good offline app for Windows. We're the closest thing to that offline app for people on a Mac, Linux, Chromebook or phone.PDFJadevs Adobe Acrobat onlineAcrobat is the reference for PDF, and the free online tools are a taste of it: one free task at a time. For everyday page jobs, you may not need the account.

At a glance

Checked 22 October 2026

	Where files go	How long they stay	Free limits	Paid plan
iLovePDF	On iLovePDF's servers. Files are uploaded over HTTPS.	Deleted automatically within two hours of processing. Signed documents are kept for up to 5 years.	Per tool. For example Merge: 25 files and 100 MB; Compress: 2 files and 200 MB; Word to PDF: 1 file and 15 MB.	Premium: US$5 a month billed yearly, or US$9 month to month
Smallpdf	On Smallpdf's servers, located in Ireland according to Smallpdf.	Removed one hour after processing for the free tools. Files saved in an account stay until you delete them.	A daily download limit on many tools (the number isn't published on the pricing page); limited AI tools	Pro and Team plans, with a 7-day free trial. Prices vary by region; see their pricing page.
Sejda	Online version: on Sejda's servers. Sejda Desktop: on your computer.	Deleted automatically after 2 hours	Documents up to 200 pages or 100 MB, 3 tasks per hour; some tools are stricter (one file per task, 50 MB, 5 MB images)	Web Week Pass US$5 for 7 days; Desktop + Web US$63 a year
PDF24	PDF24 Tools online: on PDF24's servers in the EU. PDF24 Creator (Windows): on your computer.	Deleted automatically from the server after one hour	None stated: free and without restriction, including for companies	None
Adobe Acrobat online	Uploaded to Adobe cloud storage	Without signing in, deleted from Adobe's servers shortly after (no period stated). Signed in: saved to your account.	Without an account, one free transaction on most tools. With a free account, premium tools allow one free transaction every 30 days.	Acrobat subscriptions, with a 7-day trial of Acrobat Pro
PDFJade	In your browser. The file is never uploaded.	Nothing is kept on a server, because nothing is sent to one.	No caps on files, pages or tasks. Your device's memory is the practical limit.	Free

Names are trademarks of their owners. PDFJade is not affiliated with any of these services. If something here is out of date: write to us